JACKSONVILLE, FL – In a season that has been defined by defensive intensity, fittingly, the end of the River City Rumble came down to Jacksonville University men's basketball needing a stop.
 
The Dolphins (11-4, 3-0) kept North Florida off the scoreboard in its final two possessions to preserve the River City Rumble victory, 54-51, on Saturday evening at UNF Arena.
 
Jordan Davis picked up a steal with JU clinging to a one-point lead with under a minute to play, calmly knocked down both free throws and JU successfully defended a desperation three at the buzzer to win its fourth straight game and stay unbeaten in the ASUN Conference.
 
Moments before, Tyreese Davis hit a big three-pointer on the left wing that broke a 49-all tie and put the Dolphins up for good.
 
Most of the second half was a grind for JU, who trailed by three at the half and saw the deficit grow to as many as six when Carter Hendricksen sank a three with 13:03 to play. After a block on the other end, the Ospreys had another good look for three that would have pushed the advantage to three possessions and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Instead, it rimmed out, Gyasi Powell cleared the rebound, hit a layup to jump start a 4-0 to get JU right back into the game.
 
Jordan Davis and Osayi Osifo both made layups in the next minute to tie the game and setup a back-and-forth finish. The lead grew to as many as four for JU when Marsh scored again off of an Osifo pass, but he fouled out soon after, and UNF stayed within striking distance the rest of the way.
 
The first half started with a three-pointer for UNF on the opening possession, but it was not a sign of things to come for the home team, who managed just three total all night long. JU used an early 7-0 run with an Osifo dunk and Davis three highlighting the stretch to build a 12-5 advantage, largest for either team on the night. But a scoreless drought for JU that lasted 6:44 allowed for UNF to rally and take the lead, one they would bring into the halftime locker room.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville travels to Liberty on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Dolphins have never beat the Flames in Lynchburg, Va., and both teams are 3-0 in the ASUN Conference.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Osayi Osifo recorded his first career double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. It was a new career-high for him in rebounds
• It was the first time Jacksonville held North Florida under 60 points since Feb. 12, 2009, a 72-50 win, the year before Matthew Driscoll became the head coach of the Ospreys. It was also the lowest scoring game in the history of the series
• Jordan Davis scored in double-figures for the 55th time in his career, and his 14 points led JU. He was joined in double-figures by Osifo, Mike Marsh (10) and Tyreese Davis (10)
• With the win, Jordan Mincy matches George Scholz, Tates Locke, Bob Gottlieb and Rollie Rourke for the second-best 15-game start in JU head coaching history